Landlord and tenant roof repair responsibilities in Ontario

Roof problems in a rental property raise a question that comes up often between landlords and tenants: who is responsible for fixing it, and how fast does it need to happen. This is general information, not legal advice; for a specific dispute, Ontario’s Landlord and Tenant Board or a legal professional can address the details of your situation.

The general rule

Under Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act, landlords are responsible for maintaining a rental property in a good state of repair, and that responsibility covers the structure of the building, including the roof. This obligation exists regardless of what a lease says, since a lease cannot override the maintenance standards set by the Act. A tenant is generally not responsible for structural repairs like a failing roof, even in older buildings.

What counts as the landlord’s responsibility

Roof leaks, storm damage to the building envelope, and general wear-related roofing failures typically fall under the landlord’s maintenance obligation. This extends to related issues that stem from a roof problem, like water damage to ceilings or walls inside a unit caused by an unaddressed leak. A landlord who is aware of a leak and does not act on it in a reasonable timeframe can be found in violation of their maintenance obligations.

When a tenant caused the damage

The picture changes if damage resulted from something the tenant did, such as unauthorized structural modifications or clear negligence. This is a narrower exception, and the general presumption for ordinary roof deterioration or storm-related damage remains the landlord’s responsibility. For how liability and insurance work when a roofing job itself causes damage, see our guide on who is liable if a roofer damages your property.

How tenants should report a problem

Report a roof issue to the landlord or property manager in writing, with the date, a description of the problem, and photos if possible. Written communication, even a simple email or text, creates a record that can matter later if the repair is delayed. Follow up in writing again if there is no response within a reasonable period, and keep copies of everything.

What landlords should keep in mind

Prompt, documented response to a maintenance request protects a landlord as much as it protects the tenant. Getting a written quote and a timeline from a contractor, and communicating that timeline to the tenant, demonstrates a good-faith effort to address the issue. Landlords also generally need to provide proper written notice before entering a unit for repair work, except in genuine emergencies where immediate access is needed to prevent further damage.

For multi-unit buildings, a roof issue can affect several tenants at once, which raises the stakes for a prompt response. Keeping a maintenance log across the building, including when issues were reported and when they were resolved, helps demonstrate a consistent standard of care if any single unit’s situation is later questioned.

Condominiums are a different situation

If you rent a condominium unit, roof responsibility usually sits with the condominium corporation rather than your individual landlord, since the roof is typically part of the building’s common elements. A tenant renting a condo unit should report roof issues to their landlord, who in turn is generally responsible for raising it with the condo corporation or property management, rather than arranging a private repair themselves.

A quick reference

Situation	Generally whose responsibility
Roof leak from age or wear	Landlord
Storm or weather-related roof damage	Landlord
Damage from tenant negligence or unauthorized changes	Tenant may bear responsibility
Interior water damage from an unaddressed roof leak	Landlord
Emergency access to fix an active leak	Landlord, generally without full standard notice

When the issue is not resolved

If a landlord does not act on a legitimate maintenance request within a reasonable timeframe, Ontario’s Landlord and Tenant Board is the formal channel for a tenant to raise the issue, rather than actions like withholding rent, which carries its own risk for the tenant. For landlords, working with a roofing contractor who documents the problem and provides a clear repair timeline helps demonstrate compliance if a dispute ever arises.

Landlords can find contractors experienced with rental property repairs in our directory. Browse categories from the Ontario Roofing Directory homepage, and see how we evaluate contractors in our ranking method.